I squinted my eyes as the ray of the sun blinded me. I took a deep breath and inhaled the fresh air. Tears of joy and laughter filled the atmosphere. I looked back as a familiar voice rung in my ears. "Hey, you excited your up going up next." It was Lacey Zamarai. Her divine black hair seemed lighter in the sun. Her eyes were tainted darker than usual revealing how on edge she felt. "Excited is one way to put it, im fucking terrified." I responded. "Heh, don't be just go up on stage with your head held high and get it over with." Beside all my imperfections Lacey had been in my life since we were born, she knew me more than anyone else. "Harper Collins!". I started feeling different emotions all at once. I pushed it to the back of my mind and snapped back into reality. My legs felt unsteady as i made my way up on stage. Mr. Walter shook my hand delicately, and handed me my diploma. The sounds of cheering and yelling burst my ears, making me nauseous. I managed to make my way to the other end of the stage. My legs had given up making me trip. I flickered my eyes trying to make out the figure that stood in front of me. "Hey, you ok?" The voice was familiar. I steadied myself trying to regain conscience. "I'm sorry about that, here let me help you." My eyes fell to my graduation gown, which had water spilled all over. "Uh, no its fine...I got it". I looked up to see Greyson Zamarai. My eyes flickered into his eyes holding his gaze. My stomach did a somersault just at the
Moors hand and took he degree. She smiled and gave me a little wave. “Cameron Anderson.” Cameron took him degree and threw his arms up in the air and shouted. “Paul Shank.” Paul walked up to the stage and grabbed his graduation degree and shouted “I never thought I would make it this far”. Which caused everybody in the auditorium to laugh. “Hunter Basola” hunter approached the stage and accepted his degree along with the sash he was given for achieving salutatorian. “Gavin Wills.” I walked up to Mr. Moore and shook his hand as he handed me my high school degree. Mr. Moore pulled me aside while the valedictorian was giving his speech and said “I read your paper you wrote in 8th grade while in Mr. Kroesch class, you should look into becoming a writer.” He told
I felt as if I was ,in a sense, finally measuring up to my peers. Once I sat back down, I started to enjoy the ceremony more. I observed as the number ten group received their award for having over 1,000 hours of community service, the group eleven, then group twelve and so on. Patiently, I awaited for Mr. Bravo to hold up the twenty one in order to receive my last award. When he finally did, I stood up and began to walk toward the stage’s stairs, but I noticed that I was the only one there. The times I went up before, I could hear the sound of chairs folding up and students chattering as they walk to get in line. But not this time. All you could here were the clicks of my heels. I began to feel even more nervous now. I had absolutely no clue what the award was for. Why was I the only one here. “Is it a special award? Did I read the number wrong? Was I in line for the wrong number?” My mind began to overflow with these questions. This time my principle began with “Our next award is being presented to a special student whom the counseling staff has chosen as this years Champion of Character for her extraordinary high school growth.” She then continued with “Congratulations to Ms. Leslie Ruiz.” I proceeded to walk on stage and receive my award. I was very nervous as I stood on stage alone, but I also felt very honored and ecstatic to receive such a special award. From a distance I could see my parents and my boyfriend as they
As I walked out of what I thought would be one of my last classes, my mom handed me something. It was a bright pink sheet of paper. As I read through it, I thought my eyes would pop out of my head. I couldn’t believe it! That one line literally changed my life. “Students receiving this letter will now begin to prepare to go on pointe.” I thought I could cry. I had waited
Standing in that long, obscure hallway, I could feel my stomach turning over and over like the sea on a stormy night. “What did I get myself into this time?” I thought to myself as I investigated each of my competitors waiting their turn to compete. I had worked tirelessly to prepare myself for today. The hours consumed typing and retyping a speech that had to have just the right phrasing. I had my mother and two of the best teachers I knew proofread speech and give me honest feedback. I ran through my speech numerous times, so much so that I was sure I could recite it in my sleep. I even rehearsed responses to the hypothetical questions the judges might ask me, and listened to my speech on repeat for two hours on the bus. It all came down to this. My opportunity to present at the West Virginia State FBLA Competition was a few minutes away. I sought to place at the State’s not only for myself and my club, but also for my mother. Prior to getting out of the car this morning, she gave me one of her famous pep talks to set me on my way. After that and months
“Adelia Moore!” calls the perky, prissy principal from the stage. How I loathe her. If there is one thing I detest more than narcissism its shallowness. Luckily, after today I won’t ever have to see her again. I stand and make my way through my row apologizing as I go and trying not to step on anyone’s feet. I am the last person on the list. Theoretically, the order should be alphabetized but the principal is as stupid as she is shallow. The students I pass on my way to the front have lost interest in the tedious ceremony my now. They all have their diplomas. Out of the three hundred students in attendance only five are level
"Welcome, to the 200th send off ceremony for our graduating class of 2018!". Mrs Kalani's voice could be heard all over the speakers strategically placed at every corner of the send off hall. "I would like to call up our valedictorian, Valley High's Miss Bishi". I walked over to Mrs Kalani with a huge smile on my face. Of course, I was nervous; a simple test was going to dictate the place I would spend the next four years of my life.
Fading in and out of sleep she heard music outside her door, but she didn’t have the strength to open her eyes. Then a silky, warm hand slipped into hers and squeezed it. She knew the familiar feel of her daughter, and Stacie’s body melted into the moment, all 46 years of it. “It’s okay mom”, Mackenzie whispered, “you’re seeing your daughter graduate, I love you”. The room filled with the marching sound of pomp and circumstance as the
Adam's eyes were cast down upon the floor, and Tyler was whispering to him. The Kings Highschool's Valedictorian and Salutatorian were two of her best friends, and just seeing them on stage together made her become misty eyed. She almost missed her seat, but luckily Parker pulled her to a clumsy stop into the seat next to him. Tyler had worked so hard to reach Valedictorian, from stressing over every test that he had taken that year to even worrying that Adam's class president status would ruin him. However, he was glad to have found that his hard work had paid off, and he had immediately began to work his speech. Adam, had pulled the Salutatorian position with ease. His grades were just after Tyler's in showing that he too had done well his highschool years. His graduation gown did sport a few more cords than Tyler's though. Soccer captain, president, and things as small as being a member of the yearbook committee was shown in the twisting colors atop his black robes. Finley beamed proudly as she watched him look across the crowd. His eyes caught hers, and she watched as his shoulders visibly settled from their up tight
I was standing with hundreds of my peers in an extremely claustrophobic and humid hallway, awaiting to receive my high school diploma. My hands trembled as I slowly walked alongside the podium where my principal quietly congratulated me and handed me my diploma. As I proceeded to my assigned seat, I gawked at the high quality piece of paper that seemed insignificant at the time, but would knowingly open many doors for me in the future. I was nervous. Nervous about walking down a path without a final destination, all alone.
Was I supposed to be happy or sad, or maybe both? I felt ecstatic that I had made it this far, however I was devastated that I would soon have to leave the comfort of the known. That warm, some may say oppressive, 90F days was the perfect time to take a walk across the stage. The sound of my name being called echoed across the field and I started my walk. Too many people stood between me and my diploma. One handshake and then another and finally I had it. The blue leather book was mine. It was so smooth and contained all of my hard work. The word “Windham High School” were embossed in golden yellow, almost the color of the yellow M&M’s. I had finally done it. The teachers lined the walkway, like proud parents. I could feel tears starting to well up, having to say “Thank You”; with a simple walk my joyous days became somber. I realized that no matter what mistakes I made or even how well I did I still made it to
The sun rose in a pool of crimson and gold, spilling light all over the land and the white clouds. From freezing night, it turned to scorching day as the sun climbed towards its zenith. The sunsets have been glorious lately, all rosy and salmon- pink. It was the day of my graduation the excitement rushed like an adrenaline throughout my body I was thrilled that I reached a milestone in my lifetime. All of the sudden the jubilant scenery turned into a melancholy one as the ceremony proceeded. It was from this moment that I realized that my life of adulthood would commence.
His graduate day had been as heavenly as his dreams of his mother Alexander occasionally still had. He had graduated top of his class and gave a length speech that brought people to tears and eventually to sleep. After everyone had received their diploma, the head-town-council member had given Alexander a box with the couple thousand dollars the town had gathered for him. Not expecting anything, Alexander broke down in tears and hugged to council member.
To begin I will start in alphabetical order.” She glanced down at the white piece of printer paper with a list of names written in the blue ink of her favorite pen. Her shiny grey hair and glasses gleamed in the light as she read from the page aloud, “If you have been called up, please step forward.” As she was nearing the end of the list I heard my name as clear as day, “And Kate.” I slowly arose and walked to the front of the silent, still class. We stood in a line facing our friends like a marching band, or soldiers. Suddenly the room filled with cheers and claps as loud as thunder, “ CONGRATULATIONS. WELCOME TO THE TEAM! But this process is far from over, and whoever is left will be sent to PERFORM IN THE
The valedictorian is missing. I was running around the house looking for my tassel. My graduation could not be tassel-less. I was overwhelmed. I’d worked so hard, gone the extra mile, had sleepless nights all in preparation for this one day. Time was running out. The principal was blowing up my mom's phone while my friends were blowing up mine. Digging through drawers, searching my mom’s car, and retracing steps filled up my morning. One bundle of string decided to hide on the day it was most needed. My mother, my tassel-less graduation cap, and I rushed into the car and headed to my middle school. My anxiety was starting up. Where had time gone? I took a deep breath. I grasped the knob of the eighth grade homeroom. Eyes were burning holes into my face. Ms. Clark, the worrier, grasped my hands. I could tell she was relieved. She signaled me to take a seat. My friends laughed and then walked over and gave me a hug. Ms. Clark began counting the eighth graders to make sure everyone was there. All of the eighth-grade teachers then exited the building to make sure City Hall was ready for the graduating class.
Stepping upon a simple stage was the best thing I could have ever done. Overseeing the multitude that was there to witness my every word, every tremble, every emotion, and every heart beat, was then that I realized that the sentiment was real. It was essentially the end of time and I could not bear to hold back what I no intentions of doing. Cry. Tears of joy darted down my face as I walked across the stage and received my ultimate gift. With fancy inscription, my gift was entitled “Class of 2009”. I had just graduated.